Pitkin voters head to polls; early turnout may hit 70%

ASPEN – Early voter turnout in Pitkin County hit 64 percent by the end of Monday, as election officials continued to receive mail-in ballots, and the county’s election manager expected the total would hit about 70 percent with Tuesday’s mail delivery.

“We’re right on target,” Dwight Shellman III, election manager, said in an email Monday evening.

Between mail-in ballots and early voting, the county Clerk and Recorder’s Office had received 6,778 ballots by the close of Monday. There are 10,591 active voters in the county, Shellman reported.

The early turnout reflects 57 percent of the county’s unaffiliated voters, 67 percent of registered Republicans and 70 percent of the county’s Democrats.

Polls remain open until 7 p.m. locally. The clerk’s office intends to post votes to the http://www.pitkinvotes.org website and has said the first early returns may be available by 7:30 p.m.

Check http://www.aspentimes.com throughout the evening for the results of local races and ballot issues as they become available.